Scrabble Dictionary

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Degenerate

dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt

Degenerate definitions

verb

Inflections:

degenerate degenerated degenerates degenerating

decline or deteriorate physically or mentally

"without this protein, muscle degenerates and becomes weak"

Synonyms:
waste away waste atrophy weaken become debilitated
- decline or deteriorate in terms of quality; become worse
  
  "the quality of life had degenerated"
revert to a simpler form as a result of losing a complex or adaptive structure present in the ancestral form

adjective

Inflections:

degenerate

having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline

"a degenerate form of a higher civilization"

Synonyms:
debased degraded corrupt corrupted vitiated bastard impure
having reverted to a simpler form as a result of losing a complex or adaptive structure present in the ancestral form

"degenerate offshoots from the main line of vertebrate progress"
lacking some usual or expected property or quality

Synonyms:
corrupt decadent dissolute dissipated debauched rakish reprobate profligate depraved perverted despicable base vice-ridden wicked sinful ungodly
- (of a type of equation, curve, etc.) equivalent to a simpler type, especially when a variable or parameter is set to zero
- (of an energy level) corresponding to more than one quantum state
- (of matter) at densities so high that gravitational contraction is counteracted, either by the Pauli exclusion principle or by an analogous quantum effect between closely packed neutrons

noun

Inflections:

degenerate degenerates